Our Lady of Victories Church (serving Harrington Park, River Vale and the Pascack/Northern Valley)

Harrington Park, New Jersey www.olvhp.org

OLV Rectory Religious Education OLV Convent Address: 81 Lynn St. (Mailing) 155 Parkway 145 Parkway Phone: 201-768-1706 201-768-1400 201-768-1705 Email: olvrectory.hp@gmail.com olvhpccd@gmail.com

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Sunday, December 27, 2020 A.D. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph WELCOME

To the Parish Family of OUR LADY OF VICTORIES

(THE LITTLE CHURCH WITH THE BIG HEART)

Vigil Mass, December 31

4:00pm English Mass 5:00pm English Mass New Years Day, January 1

8:00am English Mass 9:00am Latin Mass 10:00am English Mass 12:00Noon English Mass 1:00pm Spanish Mass 7:00pm English Mass

NEW YEARS’-Mary’s RESOLUTION “Mary was pleasing to God because of her docile humility. To the heavenly messenger, she replied, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1,38). It is with the same interior disposition that believers are called to ac-cept the divine will in every circumstance.” — Pope St. John Paul II

Happy Blessed NEW YEAR with Blessed Virgin MARY

S M M

T O A L L F A M I L I E S

HAPPY FEAST DAY OF THE HOLY FAMILY

JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

from OLV Family

- 2 - Our Lady of Victories, Harrington Park/River Vale N.J. Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight

and it is between two wolves.”

“One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.”

“The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity,

truth, compassion, and faith.”

“This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old chief simply replied, “The one you feed.”

God & Family “The family is fundamental because that is where the first awareness of the meaning of life germinates in the human soul. It germinates in the relationship with the mother and the father, who are not masters of their children’s lives but are God’s primary collaborators in the transmission of life and faith.” “God had chosen to reveal himself by being born into a human family and the human family thus became an icon of God!” - Benedict XVI Benefits of FREQUENT FAMILY DINNERS CASA Columbia has surveyed thousands of American teens and their parents to identify situations and circumstances that influence the risk of teen substance abuse. Parental engagement in children’s lives is funda-mental to keeping children away from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, and that parents have the greatest influence on whether their teens will choose not to use substances. Surveys have consistently found a rela-tionship between children having frequent dinners with their par-ents and a decreased risk of their smoking, drinking or using other drugs, and that parental engagement fostered around the dinner table is one of the most potent tools to help parents raise healthy, drug-free, doing-well-at-school children with healthy friendships. Simply put: frequent family dinners make a big difference.

amazing!!! “God, to Whom the angels are subject: Whom principalities and powers obey: was subject to Mary; and not alone to Mary, but to Joseph also, because of Mary. Admire and revere both the one and the other, and choose which you admire the more: the most sweet condescension of the Son, or the sublime dignity of the Mother. For that God should obey a woman is humility without compare; and that a woman should have rule over God dignity without equal.” -St. Bernard

VOCATIONS is God calling you? Mary and Joseph raised their child in a family of love and faith. They directed Jesus to follow God’s will for His life. Each of us must assist and allow our children to follow God’s will in their lives. This is true even if God calls your child to serve Him as a Priest, or Religious Sister or Brother. For information see Fr. Wojciech or Fr. Ed or call the Vocations office at 973-497-4365.

Fr. Wojciech’s Corner

Dear OLV Family! Happy and Blessed New Year!!

Let us enter full of expectation not suspicion. To ALL

who joined our OLV Parish Family this year WELCOME!

Thank You! To ALL who served in different ministries at OLV this Christmas!!!

NOW that we travel into a new year. Kelsey Zwick boarded a flight from Orlando to Philadelphia with Lucy, one of her eleven-month-old twin daughters. Lucy suffers from severe chronic lung disease and still needs oxygen at night and when flying. Carrying Lucy’s oxygen machine, the two were settled into their seat when a flight attendant told them a passenger in first class wanted to switch places. Kelsey later expressed her gratitude to “the man in 2D” in a Face-book post that quickly went viral: “Thank you. Not just for the seat itself but for noticing. For seeing us and realizing that maybe things are not always easy. For deciding you wanted to show a random act of kindness to US. It reminded me how much good there is in this world. I can’t wait to tell Lucy someday.” We change the world one person at a time.

The story of the pencil by Paulo Coelho A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked: ‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’ His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson: “I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.” Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special. “But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!” “That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.” “First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will. Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person. Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.” “Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you. Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.”

Mass Inten ons Monday, December 28–The Holy Innocents—Martyrs 8:00 James McGrath Jr. R/b Dennis and Kathleen Falotico 12:00 Eleanor Fowler R/b Mike and Maria Hellrigel Tuesday, December 29 – St. Thomas Becket, Bishop & Martyr 8:00 Joe Conca R/b Joe Tobia 12:00 Frank Muggeo R/b Bob and Sue Muggeo Wednesday, December 30 – St. Anysius of Greece, Bishop 8:00 George W. Smith R/b Family 12:00 Sven Carlson R/b Peter and Linda Wayne Thursday, December 31 – St. Sylvester I, Pope 8:00 Frank and Elsie May Reeves R/b the Anzalone Family 12:00 William J. Sweeney R/b George and Gail Fabiano

Vigil Mass - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 4:00 Living and Deceased members of OLV Parish 5:00 William Tristano R/b Josephine Tristano First Friday, January 1 - SOLEMNITY OF THE MARY, MOTHER OF GOD 8:00 Ann Benish R/b the Poggi Family 9:00 Latin Savitsky Family 10:00 Intentions of David Hughes R/b Dan and Karen Brady 12:00 McDonough Family 1:00 Spanish Giron Family R/b Raphael and Margoth Giron 7:00 Intentions of the Unanue Family First Saturday, January 2–Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen 8:00 Ramic Family R/b Cathy Ryan 12:00 Souls in Purgatory 4:00 Susan Arcangeli R/b Lorraine Gobbetti 5:00 Jean Bentivegna R/b the Bentivegna Family Sunday, January 3-Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord 7:00 James P. Walsh R/b Jeanne Marie Walsh 8:00 Joseph McPartland R/b Jack and Alicia Chimento 9:30 John Piazza R/b Tom and Anna Hackett 10:45 Pasquale DeSarno R/b the Colarullo Family 10:45 Gym Intentions of OLV CCD Teachers and Volunteers 12:00 Agnes Rotundo R/b Pat Duggan 1:00 People of the parish 6:00 Ed Sweeny R/b Maria Musante

SANCTUARY MEMORIALS The Sanctuary Lamp, the Bl. Virgin Mary Votive Lamp and the St. Joseph Votive Lamp will burn this week for the repose of the soul of Bob Hamilla, r/b Ann Hamilla.

The Hosts and Wine which will become the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, at Holy Mass this week have been donated in loving memory of Bob Hamilla, r/b Ann Hamilla.

My Parish - COVID-19 - My Responsibility We thank all those who so generously continue to support our parish by mailing in your donations. At the same time, we understand that some have been laid off from their work or experiencing decreased income and are unable to continue their donations at this time. Donations/offering envelopes may be mailed to:

OLV Rectory, 81 Lynn Street, Harrington Park, NJ 07640. Thank you for your generosity.

“Be not proud of your works; for the judgments of God are different from the judgments of men; and often times that which displeases Him is what pleases men…” Thomas Kempis, THE IMITATION OF CHRIST – Book 1

- 3 Fridays are dedicated to the Passion.

NEED BAPTISM, FIRST COMMUNION OR CONFIRMATION If you want to become a Roman Catholic or complete your Initiation into the Church, the RCIA is for you! For more information, phone the rectory. Adult Catholics who have not yet celebrated Confirma-tion should also contact the rectory for preparation class information.

CONVALIDATION Best way to start your married life is with God. In Sacramental Marriage God’s own divine life can be experienced and lived. Were you married only civilly by a mayor or justice of the peace and would now like to be married in the Catholic Church? Contact Fr. Wojciech for details. REQUIREMENTS for GODPARENTS Godparents play a very important role in your child's spiritual life as role models of the faith. They should support not only the child, but the parents as well. Additionally, in their role as godparent, they represent the larger Church community and this is a tremendous responsibility. The Church has provided guidelines to help parents choose the best possible godparents for their children. In recognizing the importance of the godparent and their duties: Godparent/Sponsor must be at least 16 years old. Godparent/Sponsor must be in good standing with the Catholic Church. Must be a practicing Catholic (attend Sunday Mass weekly). Must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. If married, must be married in the Catholic Church. If single, not living with significant other, nor married civilly only. Godparent/Sponsor cannot be the candidate’s parent. Each child only requires one Godparent. If you wish to have 2 Godpar-ents, there must be one female and one male. (Canon Law 872-874)

CONFESSION/RECONCILATION Our Lord told St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that individuals should go to confession at a minimum once a month. This sacrament is offered every weekday at 7:30AM, as well as First Friday at 6PM, and Saturdays from 11AM to Noon and 3-3:40PM; every . A Priest is also available to hear Confessions daily by appointment.

Clothing Bins: Please donate clothes, small appliances, shoes, linens, sheets, towels, stuffed animals, novels, knickknacks, toys, and children’s books. Please place your donations INSIDE the bins (sometimes you have to push it in). Do not leave items outside.

A Little Humor… Dieting - New Year Resolutions: 2017: I will get my weight down below 180 pounds. 2018: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200 pounds. 2019: I will develop a realistic attitude about my weight. 2020: I will work out 3 days a week. 2021: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

KIDZ KORNER ANSWER “Nothing”

Re. First Friday, January 1 First Friday is this Friday, January 1. There will be afternoon adoration, followed by confessions at 6PM, followed by devotions to the Sacred Heart and Mass. Saturday, January 2, is First Saturday. Mass at 12 Noon will be offered for the Souls in Purgatory.

Prayer for the Safety of Soldiers Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge in You will be glad and forever will shout for joy. Protect these soldiers as they discharge their duties. Protect them with the shield of Your strength and keep them safe from all evil and harm. May the power of Your love enable them to return home in safety, that with all who love them, they may ever praise You for Your loving care. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Pray for Our Sick Please Pray in the name of JESUS, the Healer, that the sick of the Parish may be restored to health and all those who assist and care for the sick will be given the strength to continue God’s Will: baby Cordelia, baby Emmet Fischer, baby James Amicucci, baby Jonathan, Richard Bolton, Robert Braw-ley, Dominic Carini, Sal Cenicola, Helen Choma, Kevin Columbo, Paul Corbett, Paula Brennan Cornine, Marie D’Ascenzo, Cathy Daleo, Maryann Dean, Lorraine Degerdon, Vincent DePaola, Marge Devitt, Mike Donohue, Carl Falasca, Jay Filippone, Marie Filippone, Christine Fitzgerald, Christine Flatt, Mary Foley, Amy Hartwell, Peter Kellar, Milan Krupa, Mary Lowe, James McGarry, Robert Milli, Gianna Moscatello, Natalie Niebergall, John Pal, Tom Paskewich, Joan and Buddy Phalon, Marie Piazza, Canice Prince, Debra Rendon, Bruce Michael Ricciardi, Louise Ricciardi, Vincent Ricciardi, Veroni-ca Romanchuk, Beth Sacco, Janet Sylvia, Aileen Vassar, Brian, Carla, Chris, Christina, Dierdre, Edward, Elba, Jennifer, Joann, Karen, Lauren, Lisa, Lou, Lucas, Lynn, Michael, Patrick, Paul, Peter, Robert, Sean, Sharon, Tina W. ,Tom.

Spiritual Communioncomposed by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val As I cannot this day enjoy the happiness of assisting at the holy Mysteries, O my God! I transport myself in spirit at the foot of Thine altar; I unite with the Church, which by the hands of the priest, offers Thee Thine adorable Son in the Holy Sacrifice; I offer myself with Him, by Him, and in His Name. I adore, I praise, and thank Thee, imploring Thy mercy, invoking Thine assistance, and presenting Thee the homage I owe Thee as my Creator, the love due to Thee as my Savior.

Apply to my soul, I beseech Thee, O merciful Jesus, Thine infinite merits; apply them also to those for whom I particularly wish to pray. I desire to communicate spiritually, that Thy Blood may purify, Thy Flesh strengthen, and Thy Spirit sanctify me. May I never forget that Thou, my divine Redeem-er, hast died for me; may I die to all that is not Thee, that hereafter I may live eternally with Thee. Amen.

SICK OR “HOMEBOUND” If you are sick or “homebound” (or know someone who is), and would like to have Communion, please contact the Rectory at 201-768-1706.

Relevant Radio 1430AM

- 4 - Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sunday within the Octave of Christmas

Pray for Those in the Military

US Army Captain Ben Clemente RRT Specialist James Crumb Specialist Peter Dippolito Major Michael Franson Sergeant First Class Charles Greene Private First Class Sean Keohane Captain Shawn Linn Lieutenant Gigi McElroy Colonel John McLaughlin Captain John G. Miele US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Shawn Llewellyn

US Marine Corps. Corporal Shanna Bennett Corporal Matthew Brady 1st Lieutenant Ryan Colomeo Lance Corporal Thomas Iafrate Corporal Joseph Levine 2nd Lieutenant J.P. Maher US Navy Lt. Commander Julia Cheringal Ensign Jon Clemente Lieutenant Joseph Jaeger Lieutenant Andrew Jaeger

Are Screens Affecting Our Children’s Brains? (something to consider for the new year …)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying the effect of screen time for children. The preliminary results are in, and they’re not good. The NIH report shows that nine- and ten-year-old children who spend more than two hours in front of a screen each day score lower on thinking and language tests. This is troubling since the average “tweenager” spends up to six hours a day on their tablet or phone. Another study related smartphone use by children to sleep deprivation and problems associated with poor attention spans. This is alarming since two-thirds of children take their smartphones to bed with them. One study found that the more time four-year-olds spent interacting with media, the shorter their sleep. A study published by Harvard Medical School has shown that blue-tinged light emitted by devices such as smartphones and tablets suppresses the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone vital to good sleep. Counselors warn that digital addiction is a growing problem. The com-pulsion to continue playing video games or using technology is escalating. Among American children between the ages of eight and eighteen, around 8 percent could already be classified as addicted. A 2010 study found that children in this age group spend more than seven hours a day consuming media. Experts warn that victims of digital addiction can experience “destructive dependence, extreme change of personality, isolation, and physical signs during withdrawal.” In The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, the following is suggested for families to manage technolo-gy: 1) Turn off technology one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year. 2) Use screens for a purpose and together rather than aimlessly and alone. 3) Dedicate car time to conversation with no technology. 4) Be sure spouses have each other’s passwords and parents have complete access to their children’s devices. Community is vital to our souls. We were made to do life together. Every image of the church in the New Testament is collective – a vine with many branches, a body with many parts. By contrast, technology isolates us. For every family that plays a video game together, there are multitudes of children (and parents) who play them alone. The Wall Street Jour-nal reports that loneliness undermines health and is linked to early mortality. It is worse for longevity than being obese or physically inactive. While technology can foster a sense of community through social media, it’s no substitute for in-depth personal relationships. Nothing replaces spending time with those we love. The family is God’s invention and design for us (Genesis 1:28). But the devil hates all that God loves. If he can use technology to isolate children from their parents and infect them with pornography, violence, and digital addiction, he will. Paul said of Satan, “We are familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT). Can you say the same?

Christmas is NOT 1 day long. It also is NOT 12 days long- it is a whole season. We tend to think of Christmas as being just December 25th, but the Christmas season lasts longer than that. Many think of the "twelve days of Christmas," but the Christmas season is actually variable in length, depending on how soon a Sunday occurs after January 6th. Here is the official rule for when it begins and ends:

33. Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after January 6.

This year (2020-2021), Christmas Time will run until January 10th (the Sunday after January 6).

- 5 - December is dedicated to the Divine Infancy.

Evangelist Symbols The man, the lion, the ox and the eagle are symbols of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These symbols adorn many works of art, building and objects used in worship. Each may identify one evangelist, or the four may represent the mystery of Christ’s life. They recall in turn the birth, sacrifice, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The symbols derive from the opening of the Book of Ezekiel. There the prophet envisions four living creatures in the middle of a glowing fire from a stormy north wind. The faces of the creatures resemble a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (1:10). Their mystery and their movement made such an impact on the prophet that Christian generations have seen in their appearance a foreshadowing of the Gospels of Jesus Christ. The figures appear again in Revelation 4:7. The man sometimes represented as an angel signifies St. Matthew, who opens his Gospel account with the gene-alogy of Jesus. The lion, according to legend, sleeps with his eyes open, making it a symbol of the resurrection. It depicts St. Mark, whose Gospel begins with the leonine John the Baptist in the desert. St. Luke’s Gospel account of the infancy of Jesus places the child in the Temple with Zechariah, a priest who offered sacrifice of animals includ-ing oxen. The horns of the ox represent the old and new covenant, each with its own sacrifice. St. John, the evange-list whose work intently gazes on the eternal Word who shattered the darkness with His light, recalls the eagle that flies face into the sun. In this way, tradition has assigned each evangelist a proper symbol.

AULD LANG SYNE The tune "Auld Lang Syne," is traditionally sung at the stroke of midnight in most English-speaking countries to ring in the New Year. Partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after his death. This old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days." May the Lord bless us all with a peaceful, healthy, and holy 2020!Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? And here's a hand, my trusty friend, and gie's a hand o' thine. We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet for auld lang syne.

The Shrine of Holy Innocents There is a national shrine of the Holy Innocents located at the Church of the Holy Innocents in Manhattan. It is a memorial for all children who have died before birth through miscarriage, abortion, or who were stillborn. This Shrine offers an opportunity for families to honor and remember their children by entering a name into the Book of Life. If you would like to enter a child’s name, please send a letter with the name of the child to Church of the Holy Innocents, 128 West 37th Street, NY, NY 10018, or call the Shrine at 212-279-5861 ex 224.

“We have been placed in the world for one purpose only, to do God’s will.” St. John Eudes

Watch what you wish for this new year!

This is a story from Greek Mythology.

Once upon a time, there lived a king named Midas. He had one beautiful daughter, whom he loved very much. King Midas was very fond of gold. As a king, Midas was leading a luxurious life, but still he wanted to have more gold. One day a holy man (saint) came to visit the King’s castle. King Midas took great care of the saint. The saint was very pleased with the King’s welcome. When the saint was leaving the castle, he asked the King for a wish. The saint said “Dear King, I am very happy with your hospitality; tell me what is your wish, and I will fulfill it”. As the king always wanted to have lots of gold, he said “From tomorrow onward, whatever thing I touch should turn to gold.” The saint looked at the King in surprise, but he was bound to his promise. So the saint granted the wish to the King. The next day, Midas woke up eagerly to see if his wish was true. He hurried towards the door and extended his arm to touch it, and the wooden door turned to gold. Midas couldn’t believe his eyes and then he touched his bed, table, chair, and almost everything in his room. All the things turned to gold immediately. Midas was very excited; his long term wish had come true. He thought he was the luckiest person on this earth. Without wasting a single minute, King Midas ran here and there and touched everything in his castle. His entire castle turned into gold. When everything had turned to gold, King Midas realized that he was hungry, so he went to have his breakfast. But as soon as the King touched the food, it became gold. He tried to drink some water, but the water became hard gold. Midas never thought about this before asking for the wish. Frustrated and desperate, before he could think of something else, his daughter came running towards him. Midas was very happy to see his daughter; he ran to grab her in his arms. But his darling daughter turned into a golden statue. The king realized that his wish had become a curse for him. He cried and prayed that the curse be taken back from him. King Midas searched for the saint everywhere. And then he asked the saint to take the curse back from him. The saint asked the King to bathe himself in the holy river ‘Pactolus’. The king went to wash himself in the river. As he washed, he saw the gold flowing down from his hand. The king ran back to the castle to see his daughter. His daughter was waiting outside the castle for him; the king hugged his daughter in delight. From that day onward, King Midas became a better person. He understood that the real gold is your goodness. We should not chase riches. From that time on King Midas was more generous, and helpful to the people.

KIDZ KORNER What is greater than God,

More evil than Satan, The poor have it, The rich need it,

And if you eat it, you’ll die?

ANSWER ON PAGE 3

The Holy Family is the prototype and example for all Christian families. -St. John Paul II